Card-index



R. C. RUSSELL.

CARD INDEX.

n APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1919- 1357653. Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

IIIIIII IIIIIIII I entre) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARD-INDEX.

nssaess.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed .April 5, 1919. Serial No. 287,'7791.

17 70 all fw from t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Bonner C. RUssnLL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of TQennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-lndexes; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in card indexes, one object of the invention being to provide a construction whereby the cards will be so spaced that they can be easily thumbed to permit ready and rapid ,inspection when being searched, and without the necessity of manipulating the means which normally clamp the cards in the drawer or container.

A further object is to so construct the device that the index cards are held only by clamping action, so that any card of the indeX can be removed by loosening the'clamping means and without removing any part of the holding devices from the drawer.

A further object is to construct a card index in such manner that simple and efficient spacing means shall be provided and normally secured in position, the holding means being such that said spacers may be released or added spacers inserted and secured in place.

l.Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card index embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views.

1 represents a drawer or container comprising sides 2, 9., a front end 3, a rear end 4 and a bottom 5,-the latter having an opening 6 therein which extends from the front 3 to the rear end 4.

Index cards 7 are disposed between the sides 2 and rest upon the bottom 5. Between the index cards, spacers 8 are located. so as to separate said cards from each other sufficiently to enable the user to easily thumb them and quickly search for the card desired. The spacers 8 (which may be conveniently made of card board of one or more thicknesses) are provided with depending tongues 9 which enter the elongated opening 6 in the bottom of the drawer or container and said tongues are erforated, as at 10, for the passage of a roc 11. This rod passes through an internally threaded thimble 12 in the front member 3 of the drawer and is made with a threaded portion 18 to engage the threads of thevvthimble. The rod 11 extends throughout the length of the drawer and its rear end enters a hole 14 in the Vrear end member 4, while the front end of said rod is provided with a knob 15 disposed in front of the drawer.

A follower 16, which also constitutes a clamping device for the cards and spacers, is disposed between the sides 2--2 of the drawer and is slotted, as at 17, to engage the bottom of the drawer `at respective sides of the elongated opening 6. The clamp or follower is provided with a hole 18 through which the rod 1l passes so that said clampor follower is, in effect mounted on said rod. The clamp or follower is provided centrally with a soclretin which an; internally threaded thimble 19 is located and a thumb screw 2O passing through said thimble, is adapted to engage the rod 11 and thus secure the clamp or follower thereto.

When the cards and spacers shall have been assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the clamp or follower is pressed up and secured to the rod 11, the cards and followers will be firmly clamped.

Should it be desired to remove an index card or insert new ones, or should it be de sired to expose a card so that data on a lower portion thereof may be more readily inspected, this may be accomplished by loosening the thumb screw 2O and, if necessary, moving the follower rearwardly.

In this way, the cards will be unclamped and some of them may be moved back to expose the entire surface of the card to be examined. The cards, spacers and follower may then bepressed together and thefol-V lower secured to the rod as before. By providing a threaded connection of rod 11 to the front of the drawer, displacement of said rod will be prevented when the cards, spacers and follower are being pressed toward the front of the drawer after inspection of the data on a particular card or after cards have been inserted into or removed from the drawer.

2 f e Y 1,357,653

1When it becomes necessary to inseit additional spacers, this may be accomplished by first withdrawing the rod a suliicientdistance to permit the insertion or removalof spacers at a particular place or places in the indeX and then restored to the position j shownin Figs. l and 2.

Slight changes might be made in the de. tails yof construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope Vand hence l doV notwish to restrict myself to the precise details herein vset forth.

Having `fully described my invention what Al claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. ln a card index, the combination with a container 1and a plurality Vof inde): cards resting freely upon the bottom of said container, of spacers disposed between the lower` portions ofsaid cards, whereby the upper portions of theV latter are spaced' apart, and'means for clamping the cards and spacers together in said container.

2. ln a card index, the combination with a container and a plurality of index cards Vtorrest freely on the bottom of said con-w tainer, of spacers between lthe lower portions of said index cards, whereby the up-V per portions of the latterare spaced apart,

and vmeans for locking the spacers in the container and clamping 'theV kcards and spacers together with the upper portions of the cards spaced apart.

3. In acard index, the combination with ends of the container, and means for clamping the follower to said rod.

et. ln a card index, the combination with acontain'er, and a plurality of index cards to rest freely uponthe bottom of the con tainer, of spacers disposed between the lower portions ofthe index cards, a rod passing through the ends of the container, a clamping follower on said rod, and means for clamping said follower to said rod,

5. In a card index, the combination with a container, and a plurality of index cards therein, of spacers disposed between the lower portions of said index cards, a rod mounted in the ends of the container, Ameans y removably securing said rod to one end of the container, a clamping follower on said rod, and manually operable means for clamping said follower to said rod. Y

In testimony whereof, I have signed this .specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROBERT C. RUSSELL.

Witnesses;

BELLE W'ILHELM, f'JAMiis P. RUSSELL. Y Y 

